‘Two appointees are being investigated’ – Akufo-Addo goes chest-thumping before diplomats in anti-corruption fight
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has told diplomats his government won’t shield officials accused of corruption.
He revealed, “indeed two appointees of the executive are still facing investigations” over corruption allegations.
The President would not mention names in his encounter with members of the diplomatic corps.
The two appointees under investigations
It is however known that presidential staffer Charles Bissue is being investigated by the Special Prosecutor after he was filmed allegedly taking bribes to sidestep the laid down procedures for the procurement of mining licenses.
Earlier investigations conducted by the Police Criminal Investigations Department cleared him off any wrongdoing.
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The suspended Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) A.B. Adjei is also being investigated by the Special Prosecutor for allegedly selling government contracts to the highest bidder.
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President assures diplomats as Ghana struggles on the corruption perception index
Akufo-Addo, however, assured the diplomatic corps, his appointees will be dealt with if found culpable.
The government has been under pressure to fight corruption, a key issue in every Ghanaian election.
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Ghana is not making progress in its anti-corruption fight, the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has shown.
The country scored 41 out of 100 and ranked 80 out of the 180 countries/territories assessed annually by the global anti-corruption body.
Ghana’s scores from 2012 to 2019 indicate that the worst performance within the period was recorded in the last three years.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has been insisting, his government has not shied away from investigating allegations.
“Every single alleged act of corruption leveled against any of my appointees is being or has been investigated by independent bodies such as CHRAJ, CID and in some cases by Parliament.”
His political opponents have called him a ‘clearing agent’, pointing out that investigations eventually clear the accused of any wrongdoing.
The President has fired back challenging his critics to provide evidence of political pressure on investigating agencies.
“It is refreshing to know that none of these agencies has ever indicated any pressure from the executive over their investigation,” he told the diplomats.
Are diplomats being undiplomatic?
The meeting with them was an opportunity for the president to express his misgivings about the public utterances of some diplomats.
Diplomats from the US, UK, Holland, and Denmark have raised concerns about the high levels of corruption in Ghana.
Three foreign missions concerned about Akufo-Addo gov’t anti-corruption fight
Among the striking criticisms from the diplomats was a comment made by the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs. Tove Degnbol.
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“The Auditor-General has said you cannot fight corruption without corruption, fighting you. This is sad. But apparently true in Ghana, where constant attempt to challenge mandate and personal integrity and systematic hindrances of efforts to fight corruption seems to be the prize to pay for those brave enough to take up the fight,” she said.
During the president’s encounter with journalists in December 2019, the President described some of these utterances as “improper” and suggested it amounted to interference.
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While addressing members of the diplomatic corps, the President advised them to report any of his appointees who engage in acts of corruption to his office and support them with evidence to enable swift action taken on them.
Report corrupt officials to my office – Akufo-Addo to Diplomatic Corps